“I`m particularly struck by the creativity in this year`s selections. These filmmakers are charged with telling compelling stories and engaging the audience and they really deliver” said Terry Cronin, the MIFF 2011 director of programming . “For 2011, we are pleased to be able to shine a light on Florida filmmakers who are making their way on the world-wide film festival circuit. We are particularly proud of the talent that has originated here in Brevard County.”

“On the heels of two sold-out showings at the Florida Film Festival, Melbourne native Andrew Kenneth G(a)y brings his feature film, A Beautiful Belly, to his hometown. Palm Bay`s Lee Thongkham brings his hypnotic feature, Tears of Remedy, for a special engagement on Friday. Orlando`s Jose Zambrano Casella will delight the horror enthusiasts with his suspenseful feature, The Sacred. MIFF alumnus Michael Baumgarten brings an after-hour s(e)xy Hollywood-produced thriller called Pretty Obsession which was co-produced by Melbourne`s Robin Krasny. And the short films will really knock your socks off, too! Whether its the dark humor of Matt Cantu`s zombie reality show The Zombie Factor or Devi Snively`s amazing short Last Seen on Dolores Street or the weather reality of Brevard County`s Chris Kridler and her short film Chasing Reality about passionate storm chasers, it`s all sure to be fun”

The films selected for the 2011 Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival are:

Features

A Beautiful Belly directed by Andrew Kenneth G(a)y

A warmly comic story of an aspiring but out-of-work children`s entertainer who gets his longtime crush pregnant on their first date: It`s engaging, entertaining, and hilarious.

Butterflies directed by Ester Brym

A feature documentary film following the lives of six young people that are prominent `weblebrities` on the video site YouTube. The film explores the new media, its power, and its future.

Pretty Obsession directed by Michael Baumgarten

A pretty eighteen year-old puts herself and her family in danger when she leads a double life as an erotic web cam model.

The Sacred directed by Jose Zambrano Casella

Five young people went on a journey, a weekend of fun, and what they found is the evil inside themselves. Sins come back to kill you!

Tears of Remedy directed by Lee Thongkham

Every teardrop comes with a story, one that endures beauty and pain, and mostly, love.

Palm Bay director, Lee Thongkham, tells a rich and enigmatic story about the power of tears.

Horror Films

Blinky™ directed by Ruari Robinson

Meet Blinky™. All he wants is a friend. The only problem is, he`s not very good at making friends.

Last Seen on Dolores Street directed by Devi Snively

In a hard-boiled town, a heartbroken woman says goodbye to an old pet and hello to a new nightmare. Sometimes, life`s a real bitch.

The Sacred directed by Jose Zambrano Casella

Five young people went on a journey, a weekend of fun, and what they found is the evil inside themselves. Sins come back to kill you!

The Zombie Factor directed by Matt Cantu

The zombie apocalypse becomes REALITY on The Zombie Factor, the most dangerous show on television.

Florida Shorts

This year`s MIFF features 18 films shot in Florida

The Adventures of Monty Moudlyn directed by Zach Hibbard

Monty Moudlyn is the friend who`s always `up`. The kind of eternal, insufferable optimist that you sometimes want to kill.

The Breakdown directed by Robby Sparks

Stress relief never felt so good!

Burial Island directed by Ray and Migdalia Etheridge

Two friends set up camp on a deserted island in the Everglades which had once been an ancient Indian burial ground. (Plus preview of The Money Trail directed by Ray and Migdalia Etheridge)

Chasing Reality directed by Chris Kridler

Storm chasing is portrayed as an extreme sport on television, but the reality is dramatically different. In this documentary, storm chasers talk about life on the road, their peculiar relationship with their cars, and the frustration, smells and miles that go into those few moments of seeing a tornado.

Follow Your Dreams directed by Sue Dontell

A man trying to follow his dream to be a singer is sidetracked by his wife`s illness. He has to set his priorities in that his wife is the most important thing in his life. The wife realizes the light is gone from her husband`s eyes in not being able to follow his dreams. She realizes the importance of following a dream as things come full circle.
The Incredible Banana directed by Paulette King

No matter how hard you think you may have it, there is always someone who is less fortunate them you.

Life Lessons directed by Paulette King

A sister saves the day for her seven year old brother

Maybe directed by Kevin Shah

An average guy Jim trys to find a girlfriend. Jim gets “Maybe`ed” every time and there seems to be no hope, till he meets Rachel. This is a light-hearted take on dating, relationships and being average. A movie inspired by true events.

Melbourne, FL: December/January:

Home directed by Craig Weinstein

A short nonfiction (mostly) collage of the filmmaker`s home of Melbourne over a winter holiday.

No Boundaries directed by Paulette King

Trusted neighbor is having an affair with her next door neighbor`s son.

The Red Shoes directed by Sue Dontell

“I cried because I had no shoes until I met someone who had no feet.` A girl learns a valuable life lesson to be grateful for what you do have rather than to be unhappy about what you don`t have. There is always someone in this world worse off than you.

Special Sneak Preview of “The Space Coast” directed by Lear Bunda

Starring Dana Snyder(Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Amber Freeman, Pat Martin, Dustin Harbin

Twilight of Youth directed by Jerald Fine

Brash, young stockbroker who despises the elderly contracts a strange virus that rapidly ages him.

Vestiges directed by Alex Sushil

Calvin Fields has an appointment with a dermatologist.

Extraordinary Shorts

Caught Short directed by Will Hall-Smith United Kingdom

A scatological romantic comedy.

Crossing Salween directed by Brian O`Malley Thailand/Ireland

In eastern Burma, a young girl named Ho Reh finds herself orphaned after the massacre of her village by the army. She must make the arduous journey to the Salween River that divides the horrors of Burma from the safety of Thailand.

Fumbling Toward Ecstasy directed by Gemma Faith Ireland

Offers comfort in its familiar Irish surroundings yet challenges stereotype, daring to explore female s(e)xuality in later stages of life.

Goliath directed by Ryan Daniel McKinney USA

After contracting HIV, a boy struggles with what is out of his control while his father tries to hold it together by looking to hold someone accountable.

Happenstance directed by Sandy Pranjic & Victoria Strehlau Canada

A cautionary tale.

Karate Wipe directed by Virginia Abramovich USA

A comedic exploration of one of the many challenges of fatherhood.
Loft directed by Gareth Chambers Ireland

A man and his pigeons live in fear of a young boy and his soccer ball…something must be done!

Manhood directed by Melanie M. Jones Canada

Forced to flee to the woods when war strikes their cozy suburban neighborhood, Midge continues her quest to turn her husband Harold into a paragon of manliness with surprising results.

Ol` One Eye directed by Brain Folan Ireland

An old man gets a new glass eye, however this is not your standard prosthetic. To his amazement he discovers that he can in fact see with his new eye.

Orange Desespoir Directed by John Banana France

What happens when a small sad orange decides to leave for the other side of the shop to meet a bunch of fun dancing pineapples ?

Rest Stop directed by Melanie M. Jones Canada

Danny must make difficult choices and live with the consequences of his actions while hitchhiking through Northern British Columbia.
Signs directed by Vincent Gallagher Ireland

There is magic in what we see every day. Sometimes we just have to look hard enough.

Festival Sponsors

The 2011 Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival sponsors include: Celebrity Level Sponsors- A Cut Above Video, Premiere Theaters Oaks Stadium 10, Treasure Coast Dermatology; Leadership Sponsors-Browning`s, The Courtyard at the Oaks, Academy Award Sponsors- Against the Grain Tattoos, Bill and Karen Slover. Food sponsors include The Courtyard at the Oaks, Flo`s Catering, Freddie D`s, Forever Soul Ichabod`s, Island Pasta, Miyako`s, Mustard`s Last Stand, Nature`s Market, Pizza Hut, Shells, Skewer`s, Taste of India, Tijuana Flats, and Tropical Smoothie. The MIFF recognizes critical support from the Space Coast Film Commission, and our patrons- Better Bodies, Victoria Buckley, Paulette King, Tommy “Tricks” Loomis, and Sky Diary. The support of these organizations will help the charity Unconditional Love, Inc. In return, sponsorship of the MIFF provides these organizations with community exposure and unique access to MIFF attendees.

About Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival

Now in its 13th Year, the Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival prides itself on the promotion of independent filmmakers to the Brevard County community and as a destination for filmmakers worldwide. Each year independent films are screened to enthusiastic audiences and all the funds raised go to charity.

3 Boys Productions

In 1998, a creative group of friends (Terry Cronin, Jeff Hall, Bob Lizek,and Pat Martin) decided to form a production company to produce independent films in Melbourne, Florida. This group has evolved into publishing comic books and novels including the critically-acclaimed detective series “The Skinvestigator”. They continue to host the annual Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival and the Megacon Indie Film Expo in Orlando.

For more info go to

www.3boysproductions.com

www.premieretheaters.com

or join us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/melbourneindependentfilmmakersfestival

This six person van is on-call between the hours of 7 A.M. and 10 P.M. daily. This Vero Beach shuttle service will take guests anywhere within a ten mile radius of the hotel.

The SpringHill Suites Vero Beach shuttle will take guests to a number of locations including:

• The beach
• The airport
• Dining in the area
• Nearby shopping centers

The hotel is located minutes from beaches, Vero Beach Airport, Medical Center and area shopping and dining.

To find out more about this Vero Beach shuttle service please visit: http://www.springhillverobeach.com/amenities.php

Enjoy Free Vero Beach Shuttle Service and Other Great Amenities at SpringHill Suites Vero Beach

Guests staying at the SpringHill Suites Vero Beach can enjoy upscale accommodations that feature pillow-top mattresses, large desks, and suites that have a pantry area which includes, a small refrigerator, sink and microwave.

SpringHill Suites Vero Beach is proud to be the only hotel in the area to offer free Vero Beach shuttle service and a handful of other great amenities that include:

• Hot continental breakfast
• High-speed internet service
• Flat screen TV’s with premium cable and movie channels

For more information about staying at SpringHill Suites Vero Beach please visit: http://www.springhillverobeach.com/

When it comes to travel, St. Augustine, Florida is simply a superlative southern style getaway. St. Augustine, Florida is located on the Northeastern Coast of Florida just a short 30 mile drive from Jacksonville, Florida and a hop skip and a jump away from Daytona for all you NASCAR fans and lighthouse lovers.

St Augustine is the ideal getaway for a romantic weekend because it is immersed in rich American history. St. Augustine is known for having a wonderful collection of Bed and Breakfast Inns and there is a cozy little Bed & Breakfast on the Matanzas Bay named the Westcott House, located at 146 Avenida Menedez. This quant 16 room B&B was originally the home of Dr. John Westcott, a prominent doctor in St. Augustine in 1880`s. The rooms are decorated with an old Victorian style feel and are furnished with American and European antiques.

Once we arrived, we walked into the main house and felt very welcome. The Inn has a warm and elegant feel but at the same time very comfortable and non-intimidating with the smell of the antiqued oak floor accompanied by the smell of fresh baked cookies out for everyone to enjoy.

The owners of the Westcott House, Andrew and Joy Warren were very elegant themselves yet very down to earth and very inviting. After our meeting, we were led up the winding staircase to our room and were amazed with the beautiful view of the Matanzas Bay from our private balcony that also had a private entrance from the deck. This was perfect for coming in late from a romantic dinner at the wonderful restaurant Rhett`s Piano Bar which Joy recommended. Rhett`s Piano Bar is located at 66 Hypolita Street.

Once we were settled into our lovely room, our day began with a trip to the Castillo de san Marcos, the Alligator Farm, the lighthouse that overlooks the bay and some yummy treats from touring Whetstone Chocolates. The chocolate coconut fudge is to die for.

We started our night by attending the 5:30 p.m. social hour at the Westcott House. The staff served an assortment of wine, champagne, and beer accompanied with a delicious array of Hors `devoures. The goat cheese and cranberry spread was a perfect start to our romantic evening that just got better as the night passed.

After the social hour, we retreated to the Jacuzzi in our room and enjoyed a nice soak in the tub and a glass of wine on the balcony while watching the sunlight fade into the distance and the old city`s streetlights flickering on like fireflies shimmering in the dusk. We then set out to the restaurant that Joy recommended. We had a lovely dinner and then took a horse and carriage ride around the enchanted city.

St. Augustine is a lovely quant romantic city with a sort of mysteriousness combined with abundant history that continuously draws you in. The click-clack of the horse`s hooves echoed throughout the peaceful cobblestone streets. We were delivered to our doorstep and could not wait to get back into our lovely room. The best was yet to come ”

As we settled into our room and slivered into the soft silky sheets that smelled of lavender and rose, we both said aloud, This is the most comfortable bed we have ever been in. ” As we woke in the morning to the sounds of birds chirping outside our window we retreated to our balcony to watch the sunrise on the bay with dolphins swimming and splashing in the sunlight. The Bay looked like a carpet of diamonds shimming in the sun.

Our breakfast was served by the friendly staff and owners. The eggs Benedict were delightful with a slight hint of lemon along with bagels and cream cheese and some fresh fruit on the side. To top it off the fresh squeezed orange juice complimented the champagne which created delicious mimosas.

The last morning was so peaceful and wonderful that we didn`t want to leave.

The Westcott House truly made us feel as if we were living in a fairy tale. This is one Inn that we highly recommend and will definitely be on our list of 10 best places to visit in Florida. It was truly a romantic weekend to remember.

By Jerry and Jenae Scarborough

For more information on the Westcott House: http://www.westcotthouse.com/
See More:

Judyth Piazza chats with Andrew Warren, The Westcott House Bed and … (Click here to listen to interview)The Westcott House Bed and Breakfast, built in 1880, will take you back in time to the Victorian Age. It is one of the few inns located …

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday rejected the federal government’s offer of $2.4 billion to build the line – prompting cheers from his tea party base, and harsh criticism from leading Florida Republicans and Democrats alike – squashing a project that has been decades in the making.” Read more Some critics are against high-speed rail because it’s too costly The governor of Florida is afraid that taxpayers will foot the bill for construction cost overruns. This is a valid point, every huge construction project in history has had cost overruns, sometimes totaling in the billions.

Others are against spending gazillions for bullet trains, because they are convinced that Americans simply will not leave their beloved cars in the garage, and use public transportation of any kind.

America is in an economic crisis of epic proportions, and this is not the ideal time to propose constructing a high-speed railway line.

But as some point the United States must begin building a network of high-speed railway lines, but I’m afraid it won’t be in my lifetime..

Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes

The Maritime Resources Council starts off its 2011 Lunch & Lecture series with an exciting speaker and topic relevant to Treasure Coast history. John Masters will present his exciting PowerPoint program entitled Discovery of Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 – 11:45 am at the Lagoon House on US 1 in Melbourne. The program is free and open to the public.

John Masters, Director of Operations for Intersal, Inc. and son of its late founder Philip Masters, spent years helping his father research and hunt for shipwrecks at Beaufort Inlet, NC, which resulted in the 1996 discovery of Queen Anne’s Revenge (QAR), 1718 Flagship of Blackbeard the Pirate.

Intersal donated QAR salvage rights to the state of North Carolina in 1998, and for the last dozen years has helped the NC Underwater Archeology Branch recover the wreck. His presentation will focus on the current excavation and Intersal’s hunt for QAR, the lives of real pirates in the 18th Century, and the visits of Blackbeard and other pirates to the Treasure Coast.

QAR was located near Beaufort Inlet, NC by Intersal’s former director of operations Mike Daniel, who used historical research provided by Intersal’s late president Phil Masters. Daniel now heads up Maritime Research Institute, the non-profit corporation formed to work on the project in cooperation with State archaeologists and historians of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resource, Division of Archives and History. After recovery and storage is accomplished, artifacts will undergo a lengthy process of cleaning, stabilization, and analysis that will culminate in their public display and interpretation. The North Carolina Maritime Museum is designated as the primary exhibition facility for the QAR collection.

Educated in History (and Music) at the University of Florida, Mr. Masters has been working closely with State of NC officials and archaeologists on the recovery of QAR for almost 15 years. Mr. Masters became Intersal Director of Operations in 1999, and is Project Manager of Intersal’s search for El Salvador, a 1750 Spanish merchant vessel lost near Beaufort Inlet. He presently resides in Gainesville, Florida.

See More:

The Historic Ship Nina Discovers The American Perspective in St. Augustine, FL